65° - 01.11.1969, Síða 30

waste of human dignity. Even for the man wishing
to “go it alone,” the system prevents his amassing
enough money honestly, and costs prevent his
keeping it, so he must depend on private or bank
loans till his business profits.
The harder pressed these talented men are, the
more fiery they become, the more they are judged
emotional, and therefore, foolish, by the older,
graver voices — with few exceptions. Many of
these men have left or are on the point of leaving,
and patriotism be damned. What they need is the
assurance that what they have to offer is under-
stood and valued, and that what they give will
be used and credited, and they would work with
enthusiasm (again that tainted word) since these
strange humans find it adventurous to Use their
abilities. They do not have this assurance.
But in nine years there has been some progress.
Clean sweeps cannot be made with old brooms
(and is a complete sweep desireable?), but the
old brooms, most of them, have become energized
with the discontent of the times and in the winds
of change, and have a desire to be eulogized
finally as men who kept up with the times rather
than men who were buried by them. As a con-
sequence, what was derided in 1960 now some-
times meets a thoughtful silence and a slight
suspension of immediate judgement. What was
unknown then has been read of or perhaps seen,
and is not so strange. As nationalism begins a
nodding acquaintance with internationalism,
there is a hesitation about expressing absolutes,
a doubt of omniscience. Small changes, but they
exist.
Certainly the “pioneers” should rest and let a
bit of time recharge their energies and a bit of
distance improve their perspective and pocket-
books before returning. But let them consider
that their country’s potential will be realized if
only because she has so many bitter brilliants,
most unknown to each other, that she is not
burdened with real poverty to be corrected, nor a
precedent of bloody revolution to cause appre-
hension, that youth everywhere want a change,
but have no plans, and that the pioneers do have
plans, and their plans are feasible.
The discouraged must keep up the battle, not
just for the benefit of the 52% of the population
under twenty-five, but because living corpses of
any age are best buried.
“Their time is not now,” I said, but “now” is
a state of mind, for everyone, “Now” is the future.
“Now” is all we have, and what we’ll always have
-— if we use it.
PERISCOPE Continued from page 6
Next summer there will be a Music Festival in
Reykjavik — the first of its kind in Iceland.
Among visiting artists will be the known Russian
pianist, Vladimir Askenazy, conductor Andre
Previn, singer Victoria de los Angeles, violinist
Isaac Perlman, pianist David Barenbaum and
the celloist Jacquline du Pire. Many of Iceland’s
best known artists will take part in this festival.
*
The Icelandic Red Cross has contributed 260
tons of foodstuff to Biafra — mostly stockfish,
with a total value of 12 million Icel. kronur.
*
British writer, actor and movie star, Peter
Ustinov visited Reykjavik in early October to
attend the premier of his play “Half way Up The
Tree” at the National Theatre. Ustinov claimed
he liked Iceland and especially Icelanders and of
course he was treated like a real star.
*
Two Russian warship have been on an official
visit and for awhile it looked like the Russians
had taken over the city because they were all
over the place. The sailors didn’t have much
money to spend, but flashlights seemed to be on
the top of the list, for some reason.
*
Early in November some Reykjavikans heard
a ghostly hubbub in their bathroom one night.
On investigation they discovered that a man had
climbed in throught the open window head first,
caught his foot in the closing window and was
dangling helplessly with his head in the toilet. If
the water level had been higher, he would have
drowned.
Questioned by the police for suspected burglary,
the victim insisted that he knew the people in the
house and had only intended to drop in.
28
65 DEGREES